Community people: Jacob Higgins, Dani Martinez, Jasa Connell and John Stottman.THE COURIER / Submitted The Edward Craig Smith Scholarship Foundation recently awarded $5,400 in scholarships to two students enrolled in the nursing program at Arkansas Tech University. The scholarship is one of the larger privately funded scholarships in the Arkansas River Valley. This semester's scholarship recipients are Brenda Daniela Elias Martinez of North Little Rock (second from left) and Jasa Grace Connell of Russellville. With them ...

Danville ISO rating moves to 3DANVILLE -- The Danville Fire Department got good news recently when the Fire Department's community classification rating increased from a 5 to a 3. Fire Chief Mike Mitchell said in a release that it was a two-point improvement from the last inspection conducted over a decade ago. ISO inspectors conducted the most recent public protection classification survey last month. The chief explained the new ISO level 3 classification would substantia...

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BY SEAN INGRAMsean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community people: Steve ZimmerTHE COURIER / Submitted At a recent Atkins Lions Club meeting, Russellville Lion Steve Zimmer spoke about the Lions International meeting in Chicago that he attended with his wife and fellow Lion, Connie Zimmer.

Community people: Sky Thompson and Cindy LongThe Russellville School District Homeless Assistance Program recently received 19 laundry baskets from the Victory Baptist Church that contained items for homeless families that live in hotels. Donated items included hot plates, pots and pans, can openers, towels and cleaning supplies. Pictured are Sky Thompson, RSD Homeless Liaison and Cindy Long with Victory Baptist Church. THE COURIER / Submitted

Community people: Baylee Knight and Senator Tom CottonTHE COURIER / Submitted Baylee Knight of Russellville recently interned with U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton in Washington, D.C. Knight is a freshman at the University of Arkansas. She is majoring in both business and accounting. She previously interned for Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Community people: Jeff WeaverTHE COURIER / Submitted Jeff Weaver, named head football coach for the Russellville Cyclones last February, recently addressed the Russellville Lions Club and said he is excited that his third head coaching job is for a school just coming off its first state championship.

Area gives support to Texas reliefFrom The Russ Buss to Arkansas Tech University (ATU) to Phil Wright Autoplex (PWA), organizations and businesses throughout Russellville are giving local residents the opportunity to help victims of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey in Texas. Fred Teague, founding director and president of The Russ Bus, said Thursday a truck is scheduled to be delivered to town today to load up items specifically for those in Houston who were homeless before...

Community people: Marie Ball, Clay Moore, James Stobaugh, Sydney Stone and Lantwan Traylor.THE COURIER / Submitted The Russellville Downtown Rotary Club recently hosted the "Because You Can" group from Arkansas Tech University. Members explained the food recovery program in which they have recovered over 14 tons of food from the ATU cafeteria and distributed it to local food banks such as the FUMC Manna House and Main Street Mission. They also provide an on campus food pantry and hold an annual hygiene products drive that helps stud...

Community people: Jeff PhillipsTHE COURIER / Submitted Russellville attorney Jeff Phillips recently visited the Russellville Lions Club to tell his story about being a world champion powerlifter. In over 25 years of competitive powerlifting, he has won two world championships and finished second twice. He brought his silver medal for his latest second place finish a few weeks ago at the fifth International Powerlifting Federation competition held in Minsk, Belarus.

Trooper rescues stuffed pupWhen Nellie Moore, 4, lost her grip on her plush puppy toy and saw it sail out the car window, her father expected they would never see it again. The toy landed in the road at the intersection of Parkway Drive and Lakefront Drive, and it might have stayed there. But Arkansas State Trooper Matt Foster happened to be driving behind them. "I looked in my mirror and saw it laying there, and the officer happened to be right behind me," Nellie's fat...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community people: Sherry Polsgrove and Ed StingleyTHE COURIER / Submitted The Russellville downtown Rotary Club recently commissioned local artist Winston Taylor to make a Rotary tile that will be installed in the new Russ Bus transition home shower. The club raised money to help complete the bathroom. Pictured are Rotarian and club president Sherry Polsgrove and Rotarian Ed Stingley, who organized the fundraiser.